14 DAY TRIAL // Google has confirmed the launch of the brand new Chrome Web Store, which was timed to coincide with the launch of Google Chrome 15 in the stable channel, the one that most Chrome users are on.
The new Web Store (more pics here) is a vast improvement over the previous one, it's faster and a lot prettier. Making ample use of AJAX and other modern web technologies, it makes sure that users get to what they want as fast as possible.
The clean but elegant look is a staple of the new Google design mantra, but this is probably the first time the Google team has really nailed it, not just technically, which they've proven time and time again that they're very capable of, but also aesthetically and from a user experience point of view.
"Apps and extensions are now presented in a wall of images that’s updated every time you visit the store," Shannon Guymon, Product Manager at Google, explained.
"We hope this will help you quickly scan the store and find interesting things to try out. In addition, apps and extensions are easier to install—just hover over an image on the grid and click 'Add to Chrome'," she said.
"Getting additional information about an app or an extension is just a click away. When you click on an app, extension or theme, you’ll see a panel featuring screenshots, videos and other relevant information neatly organized into separate tabs," he added.
But both the looks and the speed have only one goal, to make you use the Web Store even more. If people have a better experience, they'll be more likely to visit the site and install more apps.
If they install more apps, more developers will start using the Web Store which, in turn, will mean that more of them will be targeting Google Chrome. With more apps to choose from, more people will start using Google Chrome, feeding the cycle.